Tottenham are about to walk out for the first time at the best stadium in the world — now Mauricio Pochettino wants a team to match it.
And the Spurs boss warned chairman Daniel Levy that it is up to him to make that happen, or risk losing his highly-rated manager.
“It is about Daniel,” said Pochettino. “It is about talking, and seeing whether I am going to be involved or not.
“I am very romantic, but football is not about being romantic. People don’t like it sometimes, but it is a business.
“People sometimes say Tottenham is like Liverpool . In what way? Yes, now we have a better stadium and better training ground. But it’s another thing to compete as we need to operate - similar to them - in the future, or not.”
Arsenal and Tottenham could face £50m summer battle for Michael Keane
Pochettino has already warned Levy that winning will only come about if he is prepared to sanction the kind of spending that has transformed Liverpool from top-four hopefuls to title challengers.
Spurs are set to lose key defender Toby Alderweireld this summer for a cut-price £25million and also face losing Christian Eriksen with just a year left on his contract. Captain Hugo Lloris is out of form, Victor Wanyama is injury-prone and competition for Harry Kane is urgently needed.
The argument about the stadium needing to be paid for cuts little ice with Pochettino.
“I was talking with Daniel after the Liverpool game [on Sunday],” he said. “Virgil van Dijk cost £75m 18 months ago. The keeper was £70m.
Hector Bellerin mocks Tottenham with comments during Arsenal's win over Newcastle
“They had two midfielders on the bench who they spent more than £100m on in the summer.
“I am 47 now. I have a lot of experience. Of course we need to pay for the stadium. That is why there are lots of things to talk about. If you want to compare to Barcelona , Bayern Munich, Juventus or Real Madrid , you can’t think like you are Tottenham with 36,000 [crowds, as at the old White Hart Lane]. That is the most important step that we need to make.
“Of course, you say to me, ‘With you? Without you?’ I don’t know. That is about Daniel. But my responsibility, like it was five years ago, is to tell the club, ‘Now, we’ve finished the new stadium, we are going to think like a big club.’
“What does it mean to think like a big club? That’s what we have to discuss.”
Piers Morgan trolls Harry Kane as Arsenal leapfrog Tottenham in top four race
Pochettino’s comments came just hours after Levy, in a rare interview, had given an insight into the hard work he and executive director Donna-Maria Cullen put into delivering the stadium.
Levy said: “When I took over the club, Tottenham was not a regular European challenger. Clearly, we are now and my dream is now to win, both on the pitch and off the pitch. We are going to keep going until we get both right.”
MIRROR COMMENT: SPURS' NEW HOME A WINNER, REGARDLESS OF RESULTS
By DARREN LEWIS
Daniel Levy has every right to be pleased with himself.
Tottenham’s new stadium is indeed the best in Europe. Even rival fans will have a grudging admiration.
As the Spurs chairman reeled off the many ground-breaking features in the ground's auditorium that doubles as a private cinema, it was clear the world's top clubs are going to have to go some to top the place.
Premier League top four battle: Will Man Utd, Arsenal, Tottenham or Chelsea make it?
It isn’t just about the (totally cashless) massive bars and restaurants, the stunning south stand, the artificial pitch below the playing surface for NFL and concerts or the state-of-the-art facilities for the players.
It is also about the investment in the community.
The schools and the housing.
Tottenham fans fume after club announce Saracens link-up at new stadium
The hotel under construction.
The fact that the club’s work has already transformed the local area following years of neglect and widespread disillusionment.
Whatever the politics over transfer budgets ahead of the summer window, Spurs can be proud of what they’ve already delivered for their fans.
